Ridgecrest’s city council opened up a public hearing Wednesday night to address any unmet transit needs the city might have.

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By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Mar. 7, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Updated Mar 7, 2013 at 2:10 PM

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Mar. 7, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Updated Mar 7, 2013 at 2:10 PM

Ridgecrest’s city council opened up a public hearing Wednesday night to address any unmet transit needs the city might have.

Interim city manager Dennis Speer kicked off the meeting, indicating it was required under both the Kern Council of Governments and by California state statute in order to receive funding through the Transportation Development Act.

Ridgecrest resident Dave Matthews took the lectern, commenting that the buses the city uses for its Ridgerunner transit system appeared a little larger than ones used under the old dial-a-ride system.

“I suspect there are some places within the community perhaps like the Heritage Village where those buses might have some problem getting into that area,” Matthews said.

Jerry Taylor addressed the issue of the system’s fare box requirements. California and KernCOG require local transit systems are required to meet a 10 percent fare rate, while various state agencies fund the other 90 percent.

“At what point do we throw our hands up and give up on the fare box ratio and stop continuing to throw money at this,” Taylor asked. “We’re just a small town and never are going to meet the model the state of California wants us to do.”

Taylor indicated that the transit system was where road maintenance used to go, and considered the enormity of the transit systems overkill.

“Every dime not spent on transit is used on road maintenance,” Taylor said.

Bob Snoddy, regional transit planner for KernCOG, fielded some of the responses to the questions.

He said Taylor’s point about the fare box was valid, but said he was encouraged by Ridgecrest.

“The route system you have now is the most effective system you can have for a small town,” he said.

He said the city’s fixed-deviated route system allowed the best of two worlds, meeting peek time for a fixed routes while at the same time addressing the need for on-call need when transit periods were low.

Snoddy said independent auditors had met with the city’s transit department and would be meeting with KernCOG later in the week to determine how the city would move back to 10 percent fare box ratio.

“I am extremely confident Ridgecrest will return to the 10 percent fare box,” he said. He added it would be thoroughly analyzed by the independent consulting firm.

He said he had faith in this year’s auditor, Derek Wong, given past experience.

“He is the guy Caltrans calls any time there is a TDA workshop,” Snoddy said. “His knowledge of TDA is unparalleled.”

Snoddy went on to say that Ridgecrest’s transit system was likely one of the most efficient systems in Kern County.

Page 2 of 2 - Taylor asked what happened if the city failed to make the 10 percent ratio.

“We give you two years to comply with the ratio and at that time if you have problems with management, then we will meet with you,” Snoddy said. He indicated one option would be reducing the city’s share of TDA money with difference being made up in the city’s general fund.

However, such issues could be avoided by looking at how the city is funding it or expense costs.

Snoddy mentioned as well that the city transit director, Starla Shaver, had brought up a point that the system could be exempt from fare box requirements because it was a new system.

“It’s unfair to penalize you for a system you changed from to be more efficient,” Snoddy said. “The good news is I may use this model as my permanent model once it becomes successful. It may benefit McFarland or Taft.”

Mayor Pro Tem Jason Patin asked for clarification that the city could do away with transit system and use the TDA money on roads.

Snoddy said a transit system was a requirement for TDA funds, whether the city operated its own or contracted out. After all transit needs were satisfied, what remaining share of the city’s TDA money could be used for road projects.

.Taylor asked if there was an official number available as far as unmet needs and service. Snoddy said no.

“It’s not required by law but it is required by common sense,” Snoddy said. It would be to the city’s advantage and ridership numbers to meet any local unmet needs.

Council member Lori Acton voiced concerns that the system’s running schedule - 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. — was not the most efficient.

“These people don’t work on base,” Acton said. “They work at Denny’s or McDonalds or Staples and they need a later bus.”

Speer, the interim city manager, said the city was reviewing it.

Mayor Dan Clark said in the past he had heard seniors speak at the unmet needs hearings, but it was unclear if their lack of a presence was a sign their needs were met.

“They can’t get here to give you a comment because there’s no bus running,” Acton said.

Snoddy recommended a van pool system similar to what is operated by Cal Van Pools out of Hanford, and said the owner expressed interest in making a presentation to the city.

Following the public hearing, the city passed a resolution 5-0 establishing unmet transit needs were met.